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The Setlist: Where to hear live music Nov. 6-8, 2025

KAXE | By Malachy Koons
Published November 5, 2025 at 1:54 PM CST
"The Setlist" and "Gilbert, Grand Rapids, Nisswa, Bemidji" written over a crumpled paper background.
Maria Hileman
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KAXE
Live music taking place Nov. 6-8, 2025 in Northern Minnesota.

KAXE's weekly list of concerts near you features Rich Mattson, Michaela James, Annie Humphrey and Kelly Hunt.

November is here with first Thursday and first Friday shows, a fall arts and music tour, Grassroots Concert Series and more.

A man in a brown zip up hoodie stands against a wall with a forest and lake painted on it.
Contributed
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Bandcamp
Rich Mattson

First up, Rich Mattson is performing solo at the Ore House in Gilbert, Thursday at 6 p.m. The Minnesota music scene veteran of bands like the Bitter Spills, Glenrustles, Ol' Yeller, Tired Eyes and many more is still going strong with his current band the Northstars. He plays solo sets every first Thursday of the month at the Ore House.

On Friday, Michaela James is playing at Rapids Brewing in Grand Rapids at 6 p.m. She is a singer-songwriter from Rapids who is currently based in the Twin Cities and specializes in acoustic sets with guitar and ukulele.

Annie Humphrey and the Fire in the Village collective have two stops on their fall music and arts tour this weekend. On Friday, they will be at their Room 203 space at the Old Central School in Grand Rapids, part of the town's First Friday Art Walk. On Saturday, they will be at Headwaters Music & Arts in Bemidji. Concerts with Humphrey are both days at 7 p.m., with additional arts events and gathering time earlier in the day. The theme for the fall tour is “The Warriors and the Powerless.”

Conversation
Events Up North Nov. 3-9: Curling open houses, art receptions
Events this week include an author talk in Brainerd, the First Friday Art Walk in Grand Rapids and craft sales in many communities.

One more show is the latest in the Grassroots Concert Series in Nisswa. Folk singer Kelly Hunt is playing at 7 p.m. Friday. Based in New Orleans, Hunt’s music draws from a wide range of influences like the folk of Joni Mitchell, blues of Mississippi John Hurt and even classical composers like Rachmaninoff. The series takes place at the Journey Church in Nisswa.

Kelley Smith, a woman with long blonde hair sits with her legs crossed on a couch and her hands resting on her knees. An acoustic guitar rests besides her on the couch. She is on a porch with a window behind her.
Minnesota Music
Nisswa's Grassroots Concerts to continue with local folk musician at helm
Malachy Koons
Brainerd musician Kelley Smith was announced as the new artistic director of the long-running concert series on July 25, 2025.

Thursday, Nov. 6

  • Rich Mattson - 6 p.m., Ore House, Gilbert, free

Friday, Nov. 7

  • Michaela James - 6 p.m., Rapids Brewing, Grand Rapids, free
  • Annie Humphrey - 7 p.m., Old Central School, Grand Rapids, $5-20 sliding scale
  • Kelly Hunt - 7 p.m., Journey Church, Nisswa, $15 (adult), $5 (children)

Saturday, Nov. 8

  • Annie Humphrey - 7 p.m., Headwaters Music & Arts, Bemidji, $5-20 sliding scale
Annie Humphrey singing into a microphone and holding an acoustic guitar.
KAXE
Annie Humphrey of the Fire in the Village collective.

The weekly live music spotlight is made possible by the citizens of Minnesota through the Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.
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Minnesota Music The SetlistMade Possible by the Minnesota Arts & Culture Heritage FundKAXEArrowheadNorthwest MinnesotaNorth Central Minnesota
Malachy Koons
Malachy started his radio career in 2017 at a college radio station, where he played weird music in the middle of the night to possibly no one. On a good night maybe his parents were listening. Nonetheless, he was hooked on public radio and is still doing it today.


He joined Northern Community Radio in 2022, where he gets to share his passion for local music as Producer of Minnesota Mixtape, an all Minnesota music show airing Fridays at 10 a.m. and Saturdays at 3 p.m. You can also find him hosting Headwaters and curating The Setlist.
See stories by Malachy Koons
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